THE NORTH TEMPERATE ZONE 



131 



and two fine firs, Abies grandis, and A. amabilis. Above 3,500 

 feet, the Douglas fir is replaced by the noble fir (A. nobilis), 

 and at timber line, the Alpine fir (A. lasiocarpa), and white- 

 barked pine (P. albicaulis) are found. 



The ground flora of the forest is very much the same as that 

 in the northern Rockies, and the same is true of many of the 

 species making up the luxuriant thickets of shrubs in the more 

 open places. The vine-leaved maple, already referred to, is 



Fig. 35. — Avalanche lilies {Erythronium montanum), Mt. Ranier. 



one of the commonest and most beautiful. It closely resembles 

 some of the Japanese maples, and like them in the fall assumes 

 gorgeous hues of crimson and scarlet. 



The alpine flora of Mt. Rainier is perhaps unrivalled in Amer- 

 ica. As the snow melts, the alpine meadows are adorned with 

 a great profusion of beautiful flowers. Beds of big snow-white 

 " avalanche lilies" (Erythronium montanum) spring up close 

 to the snow-banks, and dense masses of brilliant crimson Cas- 

 tilleia, blue lupins, and pink heather (Bryanthus), make superb 

 expanses of vivid color, and with these are many others, many 

 of them wide -spread alpine species. The unusual profusion 

 of flowers on Mt. Ranier is probably due to the abundant mois- 



